Burning the haft ???

So, I've seen numerous photos / videos of axe/maul/sledge/hammers
that the owner / rehabilitation specialist saw fit to break out the torch
and mark the haft with burn marks. Is this purely choice (i.e. cosmetic)
or, is there added value (over-strike hardening, better grip, better "seal").
I haven't seen this with vintage era hand tools , mostly with re-hafting....
Never recall seeing this as I was growing up.

I don't put spots on my handles, but I do often torch blacken them.
For me the biggest reason is to burn off the varnish ( yes I do it outside ) as it's faster and easier that sanding or scraping it off.
When I shape down a handle It may be different but on now I leave stock I just burn the varnish off.

Mr. Tall.... great stuff ! So, flaming the haft has been around at least 80 years...
I was unaware. Maybe the current "trend" is part of the old "what goes around,
comes around". Thanks for the history. I hope muscle cars are next !

After you fire the handle, (lightly so you don't actually damage the wood), you then finish it up with some linseed oil.
The combination when done right creates a rubberized feel to the wood, and really does improve the grip in addition to sealing the wood.

It really will change the wood. It will make it harder and increase compression strength. I don't know if that's helpfully or not. I do think that a good toasting is a fast way to get a low friction finish as it burns of all the rough high spots. Done carefully I don't think it's going to hurt anything.